Schering-Plough discusses rheumatic disease portfolio

Schering-Plough prides itself on being a leading provider of rheumatic disease therapies in Europe.

Executive vice-president and president of the company’s research division Dr Thomas P Koestler made this comment after it was announced the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use had granted Simponi (golimumab) a positive opinion.

The drug is designed to be a once-monthly therapy for moderate to severe, active rheumatoid arthritis, severe ankylosing spondylitis and progressive psoriatic arthritis.

Once the final decision has been passed by the agency, the drug will be the first of its kind to be approved to treat these medical conditions.
Dr Koestler noted the recommendation is a positive step towards Simponi being permitted.

“It has the potential to benefit a broad range of patients in Europe by offering once-monthly subcutaneous treatment administered through an auto-injector device designed specifically with arthritis patients in mind,” he said.

Earlier this month, a new study revealed certain patients with active rheumatoid arthritis experienced symptom improvements after taking Simponi.